Robert Smith Posted March 10, 2012 Author Report Posted March 10, 2012 The original gauges have been bypassed on this car, the sending lines are coiled up and zip tied up under the dash. I'm curious as to how many and which gauges may actually work? Also, if someone could provide a photo the inside of the trunk lid and show me how the tag light bracket looks, that would be a huge help. I'm not sure how many parts Andy B. carries for '40 Dodge passenger cars but, I may have to just give him a call. But, I'm wanting to pick the brains of the fine fellows here who also own '40 Dodge sedans and such. :-) -=Rob Quote
Young Ed Posted March 11, 2012 Report Posted March 11, 2012 Its very likely they all still work with the exception of the temp gauge. The oil amp and fuel gaiges are pretty bulletproof. If the fuel gauge doesnt work its 99% of the time wiring or sending unit. Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 13, 2012 Author Report Posted March 13, 2012 Yeah, the sending unit for the fuel gauge is always needing to be replaced. I'm waiting to hear from a guy in town who I've heard is a whiz with electrical and could hook up the old cluster. Having fun with this car, I'm really excited to get this thing really running nice. :-) =R Quote
40Dodgesurvivor Posted March 13, 2012 Report Posted March 13, 2012 Is this the photo you are looking for? Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 13, 2012 Author Report Posted March 13, 2012 Hey, funny, I may accutally have that part... I have a box of parts and that looks some what familiar! I'll check the part and see if it matches... I see yours is disconnected too... That also raises another question... Did Dodge have break lights this year? I know there are two red tail lamps as always but, did they get brighter when the breaks were applied? I'm unaware as to the breaking lights for this year. =R Quote
B-Watson Posted March 14, 2012 Report Posted March 14, 2012 Hey, funny, I may accutally have that part... I have a box of parts and that looks some what familiar!I'll check the part and see if it matches... I see yours is disconnected too... That also raises another question... Did Dodge have break lights this year? I know there are two red tail lamps as always but, did they get brighter when the breaks were applied? I'm unaware as to the breaking lights for this year. =R All Chrysler products had brake lights tied in with the taillights prior to 1941 by using a double filament bulb. Before WW II they were generally called signal lamps. 1941 to 1949 cars used a separate brake light mounted in the centre of the trunk lid. Do not know the first year Dodge had brake lights, but Plymouth had them right from the first Plymouth, the model Q. The 1938 to 1942 and 1949 to 1952 models used part number 677112 which was replaced by 1512323. The 1946 to 1948 models used 920355, later replaced by 1350377 which was also used on 1953-54 models. Bill Toronto, ON Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Posted March 14, 2012 All Chrysler products had brake lights tied in with the taillights prior to 1941 by using a double filament bulb. Before WW II they were generally called signal lamps. 1941 to 1949 cars used a separate brake light mounted in the centre of the trunk lid. Do not know the first year Dodge had brake lights, but Plymouth had them right from the first Plymouth, the model Q. The 1938 to 1942 and 1949 to 1952 models used part number 677112 which was replaced by 1512323. The 1946 to 1948 models used 920355, later replaced by 1350377 which was also used on 1953-54 models. Bill Toronto, ON Grand! Thanks for that info! I'll have to have someone stand at the rear of the car to tell me if the break lights come on when I apply the break... If the car was wired correctly, I'm sure it would work right but, since this car has been wired like a Chinese cup of noodles I expect nothing. I mean, I thought the head lamps went out, until I tapped the high beam button on the floor... Wow, there's the head lights! Weird. =R Quote
Jerry Roberts Posted March 15, 2012 Report Posted March 15, 2012 [quote=Robert Smith;.... I'll have to have someone stand at the rear of the car to tell me if the break lights come on when I apply the break... unquote To make this a one man job , back up to your garage door at night and hit the brakes . When you look out the rear window you will know . Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 15, 2012 Author Report Posted March 15, 2012 Oh yeah, that works too... Ha, that reminds me, when I wanted to test the break light on the Plymouth, I'd drive to a strip mall and back into a parking spot... I'd look at the reflection in the windows of the shops to see the break light... lol =R Quote
Bob Riding Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 By the way, if anyone who has a stock engine bay, please post a few detailed photos... I'm looking to reverse some of the mistakes that were done on this... I'm also looking for the bracket that holds the plug wires off the block, seems someone figured rubber coated wires laying on a hot block was ok. Hi Robert, Great car! I think the best looking of the 40's Dodges. I had one a few years ago and here are some pics. I did a body-on resto, left it 6 volt and didn't change the wiring harness, but I would have, had I kept it longer. It is a business coupe - no back seat, lot's of storage! Engine bay as I found it After I finished with it The George Asche dual carb setup was great! I did the split exhaust and I must have picked up at least 10-15 hp. It even came with a clock! You never know who'll show up at your doorstep when you own a Mopar! Quote
Andydodge Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 Bob, I've had my 40 Dodge for 40 yrs and I have never seen that mustached fender ornament, was it factory or aftermarket?.........lol...........seriously tho' I see that you painted the dash molding in red, all the ones I've had/pulled apart over here had a dark blue/black paint in those dash pieces, the only red I ever saw in any of the "hash" markings on the car were the Dodge lettering and hash markings on the hubcaps, however its quite possible the red had worn off the other areas. Thats a real nice coupe you had, would be happy to see any more pics you have.........thanks, andyd Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 16, 2012 Author Report Posted March 16, 2012 Beautiful coupe!!! Never seen a glove box door with a clock! That's gotta be ultra rare... And yes, I'd agree that the '40 is the best looking Dodge of the 40s... IMO of course. ;-) Well, thanks for those photos! They do help very much! I hope to purchase a wiring harness and start getting the wiring replaced by Monday. The wiring on this car is just so hap-hazard, I'd leave it alone if it wasn't so, so... screwy. This also raises a question... Did the '40 Dodge have a choke? Mine doesn't have one... Or it was removed at some point. Not sure why but, it was if there was one. -=Rob Quote
Young Ed Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 This also raises a question... Did the '40 Dodge have a choke? Mine doesn't have one... Or it was removed at some point. Not sure why but, it was if there was one. -=Rob Yes I'm sure it had a choke. I would think in 40 it would still have been a manual one with a dash control cable but the picture of Bobs 40 shows an automatic one. Check under the hood for a little can mounted to the exhaust manifold with an arm to the carb. Quote
40phil41 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 Yes I'm sure it had a choke. I would think in 40 it would still have been a manual one with a dash control cable but the picture of Bobs 40 shows an automatic one. Check under the hood for a little can mounted to the exhaust manifold with an arm to the carb. My '40 has an automatic choke (original equipment) but I currently have it disconnected and installed a manual one. Phil Quote
Young Ed Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 Apparently Dodge got the automatic choke way before plymouth. Plymouths were manual chokes until the new 49s. Quote
TodFitch Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 Apparently Dodge got the automatic choke way before plymouth. Plymouths were manual chokes until the new 49s. '34 PE (DeLuxe) Plymouth had an automatic choke. Standard (PF) and Business (PG) did not. Not sure if they later dropped automatic choke from all Plymouths or if they only had it on the upscale version for each year. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 My p15 is the upscale version and it has a manual choke. Interesting they went backwards. Although I think they did that alot with those mid 30s cars. Wasnt the 34PE also independent front suspension too? Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 The 39 Plymouth had the manual cable pull choke. The sisson automatic choke was installed onthe 39 Dodge, Chryler and desoto models. Since the two mounting studs were not on the intake manifold onthe plymouth sisson made a metal clamp that bolted onto the head and then this held the sisson choke onto the top of the intake manifold. I have two of these clamps and I wll post pictures of the setup if anyone wants to see this example. Rich HArtung Desoto1939@aol.com Quote
Niel Hoback Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 Please post the pictures of the clamp. I have the choke but no way to mount it. Perhaps it can be duplicated. THank you very much. Quote
TodFitch Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 My p15 is the upscale version and it has a manual choke. Interesting they went backwards. Although I think they did that alot with those mid 30s cars. Wasnt the 34PE also independent front suspension too? Yes 1934 PE and PF were independent front suspension. 1934 PG went back to the beam axle for cost savings and then it was dropped on all versions in 1935. Oil filters were also standard on Plymouth through at least 1934 but were dropped on standard/business/roadking models later and/or became options on all of them. Quote
austinsailor Posted March 16, 2012 Report Posted March 16, 2012 I have a 40 4 door parts car and may have a few bits and pieces you need. I'm 1100 miles from it now, should be back in a week or so. Let me know what you haven't found and I'll see if I have anything usable. As for a shift knob, I have 2 40 Dodges and both have a shifter that has a plastic molded handle that covers the whole thing, not a knob. I've been unable to find a replacement. I noticed in one picture in this thead that the shifter looked to have a screw on knob. Maybe there were 2 types. A few years ago I bought a knob from Andy Bernbaum for $14 that looked real nice but wouldn't fit my car. If yours takes a screw on type you might try Andy. Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 17, 2012 Author Report Posted March 17, 2012 I have a 40 4 door parts car and may have a few bits and pieces you need. I'm 1100 miles from it now, should be back in a week or so. Let me know what you haven't found and I'll see if I have anything usable.As for a shift knob, I have 2 40 Dodges and both have a shifter that has a plastic molded handle that covers the whole thing, not a knob. I've been unable to find a replacement. I noticed in one picture in this thead that the shifter looked to have a screw on knob. Maybe there were 2 types. A few years ago I bought a knob from Andy Bernbaum for $14 that looked real nice but wouldn't fit my car. If yours takes a screw on type you might try Andy. Great, I can think of some things, PM me your number and I'll call you and I'll give you a list of some things I'm looking for! :-) Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 17, 2012 Author Report Posted March 17, 2012 Today I decided to take out the speedometer to re-attach the ring that came off during transport. I put it back on without too much trouble also, I'll have to lube it and get that back in. Also, while under the dash I had the delightful surprise to see I have no dash lamp sockets... Until I saw a large lump wrapped in black electrical tape along with the wires leading to the light switch... Yep, one of the dash lamp sockets... but, can't find the other... Oh where was logic when this wiring was being done??? So, if I can't find the other dash lamp socket, I may need one of them too. Also, I was looking at the windshield motor... Looks to be electric... Did Dodge have an electric wiper motor? Or did someone replace the vacuum type at some point? Thanks for all comments and info! I'm really enjoying this! =R Quote
Andydodge Posted March 17, 2012 Report Posted March 17, 2012 Rob, as far as I know the 1940 Dodge has 3 dash lights, one each that press into the rear of the instrument cluster on either side of the speedo and a 3rd that fits onto a bracket on the ignition key tumbler and lights that area......at least this is what my Oz Dodge has........lol........andyd Quote
Robert Smith Posted March 17, 2012 Author Report Posted March 17, 2012 Oh, that's good to know, I always liked the lit ignition like on the P-15's. I think that light was by passed too... :/ I have some back peddling to do but, I really like this car! -=R Quote
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